Daniel Hovens, a Dutch Mennonite preacher, born 1735 at Haarlem, died 1795, married to Susanneke Nieuwenhuyzen in 1755, became the preacher of the Frisian congregation of Barsingerhorn, province of North Holland, serving 1755-1757. His conflict with a Reformed colleague on account of a Reformed girl who joined his congregation shows him to have been peaceful but determined. He later served the congregations of Sneek 1757-1761, Monnikendam 1761-1764, West Zaandam "Oude Huys" (Frisian) 1764-1770, and Leiden 1770-1789. After 1789 he no longer exercised his preaching office, having accepted a political office in Rotterdam. During his term at Leiden he performed at least one (1777) baptism by immersion.

Among his colleagues he holds a high place in scholarliness and mental acuteness. His treatise Over het onderscheidende kenmerk der christelijke openbaring en derzelver verband met de Natuurlijke en Joodsche Godsdienst was awarded the gold medal by the Teyler Theological Association in 1781. The subject indicates the intellectual atmosphere in which Hovens lived. The same spirit is shown in a catechism he wrote: Lesboek voor de Kinderen der Christenen . . . (Leiden, 1787, 1794). He also published Onze tegenwoordige Toestand vergeleken bij dien onzer Voorouders in en omtrent het jaar 1574 . . . , and two addresses (Leiden, 1782). He served as a director of the Maatschappij tot nut van't-Algemeen in 1784, the second year of its organization. He had planned to enter the book business, but under the influence of Collegiant meetings, he devoted his life to theology.